CAERPHILLY council leader Harry Andrews will face a motion of no confidence, it was revealed today.

The opposition Plaid Cymru group will table the motion in the wake of the pay scandal which has engulfed the council and seen the suspension of the chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan after a damning report by Wales Audit Office.

Police are set to probe the pay rises given to top council staff after the WAO found the council had acted unlawfully when it awarded huge pay rises for 21 senior officers.

Councillor Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, said: “This debacle, which has brought embarrassment and discredit to Caerphilly, was not only a failure of senior officers but of the political leadership of this council.

“This shambles happened on Councillor Andrews’ watch and he has to take responsibility for the appalling failings highlighted in the auditor’s report. Nothing at the Senior Remuneration Committee – which awarded the rises – could have happened without the knowledge of the council leader who made no attempt to stop these exorbitant increases.

"Both myself and my Plaid Cymru colleagues have worked very hard over the years to ensure the success of Caerphilly Council. It gives us no pleasure to see the mess that the Labour party have now created."

“The public’s confidence in the council has been shattered and Caerphilly council needs a new start under new leadership.”

Councillor Mann added: “The Plaid Cymru group will put forward the motion so it can be discussed at a special meeting of the county borough council This whole episode shows how out of touch Labour is after just a few months in office."